As the world grapples with the pros and cons of artificial intelligence, Nebraska school districts, including Gering Public Schools, are adopting policies on when and how the technology can be used in the classroom.
The GPS Board this month approved an initial policy on ‘AI’, which Superintendent Dr. Nicole Regan says grew out of discussions among various school administrators across the state.
Regan tells KNEB News many educators looked at ‘AI’ at first with fear, and are now excited about the possibilities. “Our teachers are really wanting to know, where do we go in this direction? What can I use? How can I implement this into, you know, our STEM, or our innovation thinking and our design learning for our students too?” said Regan. “So, this is just a starting point of getting some parameters of what we can function as for AI. And then the next level is rolling this out to our educators so that they can use this and infuse this into their classroom.”
Regan says she anticipates the introduction and student use of ‘AI’ will be a gradual process.
“There will be thresholds on that. I see this more on the innovation learning on the secondary level more than anything else, because we’re still learning skills in our elementary grades. But I do see companies and products coming to enhance the learning experience that we want to be open to, to anything that they feel that if it impacts learning, and student learning and engagement, we want to be right there when they come,” Regan said.
She says use of ‘AI’ by students in the classroom will be closely monitored, and the policy says students will be required to declare use of ‘AI’ in projects or assignments to help guard against inappropriate use and plagiarism.
